The Actress in High Life eBook

She now recollected herself enough to let go the handle
of the door, and make room for him to enter, and,
by a motion of the hand, invited him to take a seat.

Taking a chair near her, L’Isle ran his eye
round the well-remembered room. Perhaps he was
thinking of his last visit here—­perhaps
remarking its dismantled, comfortless condition.
It was not more changed than he was. All his
earnest frankness of manner was gone. He seemed
to have borrowed a leaf from Colonel Bradshawe’s
book; and his air of cool self-possession, his imperturbable
manner, under the present trying circumstances, would
have excited that gentleman’s admiration, but
it added a chill to the discomfort of Lady Mabel’s
position.

Had he been angry, indignant, haughty, or sullen,
it would have been an infinite relief to her.
She might have known how to deal with him, and perchance
have soon brought him round to a very different mood.
Now L’Isle evidently waited with cool politeness
to hear some sound from her lips; and she at length
stammered out, “I am very sorry that you are
going—­that is, that papa and all of you
are going so soon.”

“Our pleasant sojourn in Elvas is over!”
said L’Isle, carelessly, “and Elvas is
a pleasant place. Your stay here, too, has been
quite an episode in winter quarters. We cannot
thank you too much for the enlivening influence of
your presence among us. I, for one, will ever
carry with me a vivid recollection of it.”

Lady Mabel bowed. How cold and formal did this
sound in her ears.

“To do ourselves justice,” continued L’Isle,
“some of us have not been remiss in our efforts
to enable you to pass your time pleasantly. I
dare say now, were I to hold myself to a strict account,
I could reckon up many an hour stolen from the dull
routine of duty to devote it to Lady Mabel’s
service.”

“I am surely deeply indebted to you for the
hours you so borrowed to bestow on me,” Lady
Mabel answered, much at a loss what to say, and looking
every way but at L’Isle. “When I look
back, I cannot but be surprised at the amount of my
gains, the knowledge and amusement I have crowded
into three short months, and chiefly through you.”

“That time has passed, however,” said
L’Isle; “I can no longer be at hand to
afford you amusement. And as for knowledge, although
older than you, and knowing more of life, the world,
and perchance of books, I doubt whether you have been
the greatest gainer in our intercourse. But feeling
a deep interest in you, I sincerely hope that you may
gain one precious lesson through me.”

“What is that?” asked Lady Mabel eagerly—­for
the first time looking fully at him.

“Never again heartlessly to throw away a friend!!”
L’Isle said this more gravely than bitterly.
Then rising, he bowed respectfully but formally, and
was turning to go away.

Can she let him go without one word? But what
can she say? She, at length, gasped out, “It
was papa’s doing.”